Just As Beautiful - Sept 08

The UK’s first free Lifestyle Magazine dedicated to the plus-size woman

SEPT 2008 Issue 20

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10 Most Influential Plus-Size Women

Conscious Living

BIG GIRLS storm Fashion Week

‘Britain's Next Plus Model’!! Do you have what it takes to be the definitive plus-size face of the UK?

Are you a model that has never been given a chance because the industry thinks you are too big?

Do you know anyone that looks stunning and deserves to be recognised as a high-end model?

If the answer is yes, then you would be happy to know that Just As Beautiful Magazine (The UK's First Free Lifestyle Magazine Dedicated To The Plus-Size Woman) is looking to give a lucky plus-size fashionable lady a break into the glamorous world of modelling! If you have what it takes to be 'Britain's Next Plus Model', send an email with 2 good pictures of yourself to [email protected], putting 'Britain's Next Plus Model' in the subject header to request for an application form.

You must be at least a size 16 and over 18 years of age!! Deadline; 30th October, 2008

Look out for details in Just As Beautiful Magazine. To subscribe for your free monthly copies email:

[email protected]

'Britain's Next Plus Model'!!

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4. Editor’s Desk 5. Nile Graham 7. Big Girls Invade London Fashion Week 8. Bob Toovey 10. Health 15. Fat Pig 16. 10 Most Influential Plus-Size Women 17. Lyndsay Russell 21. Fashion

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25. Feature

Art Director: Jason James

Just As Beautiful

[email protected]

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24-26 Arcadia Avenue Finchley London N3 2JU Tel: 020 8453 7185 (office) 07043 020 287 (field) Fax: 0870 131 9838 e-mail: [email protected] Web: www.justasbeautiful.co.uk Just As Beautiful Magazine is published by London Business Communications & Publishing (LBCP)

Well, a lot has happened since last month's issue and we hope you enjoy reading the following pages that our team has put together.

Editor’s Desk

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i everyone and welcome to another exciting issue of your favourite plus-size monthly, Just As Beautiful.

It has been an extremely busy month and Just As Beautiful would like to thank the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) for coming to interview and film us in the office. This is a testament to the global recognition and growth of our magazine and we promise to remain ahead. The storming of London Fashion Week, by plus-size women demonstrating against the size zero-only catwalk this month has once again led to the opening of the debate. Thanks Christopher Biggins! Fat Chance author, Lyndsay Russell, takes a fed-up look at fashion week, while Nile Graham reminds us about conscious living and we also take a look at the ten most influential plus-size women.

Happy reading! Julia Thomas Editor

Conscious living Taking time to review the summer of 2008

By Nile Graham

Hello readers!! I hope the summer (what we had of it) was a positively memorable time for you. Did you go out and make it memorable for yourself by setting some achievable goals? Did you convert all you saw, heard read and personally experienced about your own and others style that you admire into action? Trying and buying clothes, applying the basic rules I've given you in my previous three part 'personal styling tips' not so long ago? – WHAAAAT! You thought I wouldn't check up on you (lol) you don't escape that easily my friend! All too often, in a world full of information and 'just-got-to-know' (and 'should-know this or that'), it can feel like the only time for reflection is the one for five minutes in the bathroom mirror as you check your hair and face for remaining eye crust and breakfast before bolting out the door for another full and demanding day of restrictions and expectations. I had two weeks during the summer months where I thought my head was going to explode with all the things I had to do, think about, consider, to respond to, ponder over (yeah right! Like there was time

to ponder!) and act upon. In order to make the latter less reactionary and more of a considered outcome, I truly had to step back from how all of this was making me feel – i.e., overwhelmed, anxious and dizzy! – and recall the short and more long term goals I had set myself for exactly this reason. What do I mean? Well, life has a tendency to appear to gather death defying pace at times when we feel the least able to cope with it. This is the time when our old ways or patterns of thinking and behaving can jeopardise all our best efforts to pursue more healthy and helpful directions. Our consciousness is so strongly in play daily that, with so much to contend with, it literally pushes new thinking aside in favour of what it believes to work best – the status quo or what it knows. It's not that there is no interest in change, it's just that time and commitment to reinforcing the change is necessary if it is to ascend the realms of the conscious mind. The sub-conscious carries the

signature of the new thinking. There will be brief flashes of what you should be thinking and doing; maybe even a lingering thought…before old habit takes over. An example, you're approaching the till at lunch time and, as they do, your eyes peruse the chocolate and other goodies. You think of the fruit salad you've picked up as part of your new regime of healthier living…you figure you'll be better placed to start afresh tomorrow. Out goes the fruit salad (if it ever made it to your basket!), and hello chocolate bar. You may even rationalise your choice based upon the energy that the bar will give you, however immediate and short term we well know that is…to further validate your decision. This is not about chocolate vs. fruit cup, it is about how powerful our immediate thinking and behaviour are and how new thought needs consistent action if it is to take root. This is where our unconscious can sway between a supporting role of the conscious or sub-conscious state. Whilst it may sound the least powerful of the three states, the very opposite is the case.

Our dreams, dalliances, aspirations, emotions and such are so inextricably linked to it that we can feel very settled or unsettled depending on how close our daily living mirrors or opposes it. Psychologists such as Freud and Jung have based the most part of their work on the effects of the unconscious mind on our behaviour. For Cognitive Behavioural

practioners, all roads to change begin within this state, which they refer to as the “Pre-contemplative stage”; the mere entertaining of thoughts of change.

Get planning people and I'd like to her back from you. Good luck

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So if your short term goals for the summer were realised – Congrats! In part well done, and for those that say 'not at all'…why? It may be that you just need to gather more momentum. Action plans with dates and times to do things by may sound pragmatic but, however, you learn (visual, sounds, hands-on observation etc), without a plan – change will be a word you more associate with having less of in your pocket as the credit crunch continues to bite us in the….

Nile Graham is a life coach and personal development expert and can be reached by sending an email to her at: [email protected]

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CURVEY GIRLS INVADE LONDON FASHION WEEK

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orty plus-size ladies, the legendary Christopher Biggins and his new band RubyCupids invaded London Fashion Week with 'Size Zero's So Passé, Bingo Wings Any day' placards to promote a new single called 'Bingo Wings' and were nearly arrested by Police for holding an 'un-authorized demonstration.' The fun stunt on the opening day of London fashion week was a great way of launching the single celebrating of the arms and charms of the larger individual and reminder people that you should be proud to be yourself whatever your shape. After an hour of altercations with police the event, which was filmed by ITV and GMTV passed without arrests but Biggins and the guys

were sternly told they had to register all protests however fun with the authorities in the future. The fashionistas didn't know what hit them! When three thespian friends Matt, Nathan and Jimmie decided that the world needed to say 'goodbye to size zero and hello to big girls' and that there was simply not enough pop in the world there was only one solution – to record a record celebrating the charms and arms of the larger lady. RubyCupids were formed and plans were hatched but something was still missing and that something came in the shape of the one and only Christopher Biggins, who Nathan was working with on the Rocky Horror Show.

Home Grown Support By Bob Toovey

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here do you buy your clothes? Seeing as it is hard to find anything worth while on the high street, not to mention how embarrassing it can be, I am guessing you buy it on the internet. Not a problem and for me quite understandable. But are you using a UK company or one further afield, the USA for example? Thankfully these days search engines can help you find a clothing company but sometimes it does seem that the Americans can dominate the plus size clothing market. One of the problems of dealing with overseas internet shops is the customer support. What happens if it is damaged or not what you ordered? Most likely you are going to have to pay to send it back. I guess the British reserve stops the UK retailers from making themselves known. And yes, there are UK retailers that sell plussize and ONLY plus size. Have you found them?

I am in a good position to know about these shops as I run my own set of blogs on size-related issues. There are many UK based plus-size retailers run by women who, like many, are disappointed at the range of sizes and styles available in the high street. That is their inspiration to go in to business and to sell. Good on them I say. Do you remember in days of old the 'Buy British' campaigns? People were encouraged to buy British to support our economy. I still like the idea of 'Buy British', but to support our own plus-size retailers. Before you say it, many of the UK internet shops are supplying clothing by US based designers. Well they have to start somewhere; perhaps if they are successful they can search out home grown talent. So, next time you are looking for something to wear and start reaching out for the keyboard, remember you can get what you want right here in the UK.

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The rest as they say is history. With RubyCupids and MC Biggins camping it up for all they're worth, 'Bingo Wings' is proving a runaway success on YouTube and the video's unique moves have sparked a dance craze that is set to dominate school discos and wedding dances for generations. So check out 'Bingo Wings' and gear up to be the surprise hit of 2008 – because whatever your proportions you will find yourself shaking your excess fat senseless to the definitive homage to the flabby forearms of the non size zero wearing masses

Olivia Newton-John Teams With Curves 1 million breast self-examination kits to be distributed during October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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livia Newton-John has teamed up with Curves in an initiative to offer the Liv Aid breast self-examination kit during October Breast Cancer Awareness Month to help women become more comfortable performing their monthly at-home examination. Breast self-examination is an important step a woman can do herself as part of a regular breast health routine. “Clearly, a significant number of breast cancers are found by the patient herself, even in the setting of a normal mammogram,” says renowned breast cancer surgeon, Ernie Bodai, M.D., F.A.C.S. “The Liv Aid greatly enhances a woman's ability in detecting an abnormality…which in many cases will lead to early detection and a better chance for a cure.” Non-members can get a free Liv Aid when they come in for a complimentary Fitness Assessment. Curves members have a variety of ways to obtain a Liv Aid, including showing proof of a mammogram within the last 12 months. Liv Aids are also available for purchase by anyone in the community. And to help Liv Aid recipients remember to use them, they can sign up to receive complimentary monthly email alerts from Olivia Newton-John, who has partnered with Curves to help promote breast cancer awareness. “Being a breast cancer 'thriver,' I know that early detection is key to good breast health,” says Newton-John, whose cancer was diagnosed in 1992 and who is now cancer-free. Olivia with Curves co-founder Diane Heavin

NEW EARTH-LINE ORGANIC RANGE LAUNCHES NATURAL INSTANT TAN

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nlike most instant tanning products, Earth-Line's Self Tanner is made from 100% natural ingredients which have been allergy tested and carries the highly coveted BDIH organic certification. There are no parabens, paraffin, colorants or synthetic perfumes - just pure honest ingredients blended to work together giving you a healthy tan without a hint of "WAG orange" to be seen. Also included in the range is Tan Accelerator which is specially designed to maximise the skins ability to acquire a tan with the minimum amount of exposure to the sun. The formulation uses natural oils, Vitamin E and tan activators to protect the skin against the signs of ageing and provide maximum hydration.

amounts of natural Vitamin E that can be absorbed by the skin. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant which is beneficial to the skin in a number of ways:

* protects the skin from damaging environmental factors such as air pollution additives, UV radiation and other stresses. * increases circulation to the skin which feeds the tissues with oxygen and this helps to improve skin regeneration and reduces skin damage caused by sun exposure. * stimulates skin cell renewal which allows greater skin hydration and this helps slow natural ageing processes and reduces the build up of fine lines.

The Earth-Line range is based on formulations that use the optimal

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How To Have A ‘Positive' Period

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recent survey revealed that three quarters of women in the UK described their period as an 'unhappy' experience, yet nearly 70% of Greek ladies describe their periods as happy, followed by 58% in Switzerland, 54% in Austria and 45% in France. So why do we have it so bad in Britain and what can be done to ease the pain? In the poll of 2,400 women across Europe, one in ten of 19-24 year olds in the UK are simply unable to function. Part of the challenge seems to be the feelings that intensify during a woman's period. Irritability comes top with 69%, followed by pain (56%), stress (49%) and anger (41%). We are also the most likely of all nations to have more arguments with people during our period. On the plus side, periods seem to make lots of women want some extra loving. Close to one in five women report heightened senses

and 21% of 19-24 year olds experience heightened sex drive. Women have also come up with ways to make their period more enjoyable. Comfort food scored highest with 49% allowing themselves to indulge. Stilettos and micro-minis stay in the wardrobe of 36% of women who wear comfortable clothes and shoes instead. What can women learn from their European sisters? Talking about your period definitely helps. The Greeks have the happiest periods and they're also the most comfortable talking about them. They also see periods as a natural detoxification process and a cause for celebration that they are not pregnant. The French use L'Amour. As well as improving their periods by seeking attention from their loved ones, which may result from having the most increased sex drive, they are twice as likely to do the deed. Confidence coach Dawn Breslin gives her golden rules for a more positive period:

1. Women have a wonderful opportunity to experience life from a fresh perspective once a month. Dreams are more vivid and your true feelings are more in focus. 2. Choose to enjoy and appreciate the enhanced sensitivity and sensuality. The power of periods is to give women a heightened experience of their own body and femininity. Embrace it and your partner will too. 3. Don't fall into the trap of using a period as an excuse. 4. A period is a time when your body is detoxing, so nourish yourself with healthy energising food.

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The first ever home food allergy test is launched in the UK As the NHS continues to fail allergy patients Allergy Analysis launches a pinprick food allergy test which can be taken at home-

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hen we consider food allergy, images of severe and immediate reactions to peanuts, for example, are conjured up in the mind. However, food allergy symptoms can occur within a few minutes to an hour[1] and it can therefore be difficult to determine the offending food or foods. We also rarely eat a single food item and with such a variety of foods in our diet it can be very difficult to pinpoint the foods we are potentially at risk from. Symptoms can include itchy skin, swelling lips and face, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing, asthma, dry itchy throat and tongue, rashes, eczema, diarrhoea, vomiting, and headache. Very often sufferers don't consider their symptoms to be caused by allergy or mask their symptoms with antihistamines, steroids and decongestants or other treatments designed to treat the symptom rather than the cause. Allergy Analysis has launched, Food400, the UK's first pinprick IgE test which tests for food allergies and can help people identify the cause of their ill health symptoms. The quick, reliable and convenient test can provide sufferers with valuable information enabling them to take the next steps towards better health.

Samples for the Food400™ can be taken at home and uses a pinprick method to capture a small amount of blood which is sent back to their service laboratory for testing. It is the first IgE test which uses this method, thus eliminating the need for a venous sample to be taken by a medical professional. Allergy Analysis said: “There is a very real allergy management problem in the UK. Allergy services are significantly under-resourced which means many people are turning to the high street in order to try and alleviate their ill-health symptoms. The downside of this is that many people are at the mercy of non-scientific and invalidated tests and, after taking these tests, find little or no improvement in their symptoms, or make dangerous dietary changes unguided by health professionals. Allergy and IgE antibodies are reliably measured and the methods of testing undisputed by the scientific community. Some believe that IgG may play a role in terms of food intolerance, however the jury is still out as far as conclusive evidence is concerned. “Allergy Analysis has developed Food400™ to help people identify food allergies which may be contributing to ill health symptoms. Allergy is often considered to have an immediate effect but, in many

cases, the symptoms can be delayed by up to an hour or two which can make it difficult for individuals to identify the offending foods without help. We also have a wide variety of foods in our diet and if we haven't prepared the food ourselves, when eating out for example, we may not be aware of all of the food items we have ingested. Food400™ provides a reliable and convenient method of identifying food allergies without the visit to a GP and extensive waiting times before being referred to an allergy specialist which is the alternative.” The UK has seen the incidence of allergy increase quite dramatically over recent years. Latest studies put the rise at around three-fold in the last 20 years, giving the UK one of the highest rates of allergic disease in the world. Food allergy is increasingly common and is the most common cause of anaphylaxis in children. Peanut allergy, the most common food allergy to cause fatal or near-fatal reactions, has trebled in incidence over four years and now affects one in 70 children in the UK. Only 10 years ago this was an incredibly rare disorder.

Ella's Runaway Success

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AT PIG, the theatre show staring Ella Smith in the role of 'Helen', has become such a success that its run has been extended and Kelly Brook is to be added to the cast from October. FAT PIG is directed by its author, Neil LaBute and also stars Kevin Bishop as 'Carter', Joanna Page as 'Jeannie' and Nicholas as Burns 'Tom'. Ella was a regular character in the television drama series “Cape Wrath” and has recently starred opposite Kris Marshall (who was originally in the play) in the ITV drama “Sold”. When Tom first meets Helen there is an instant connection, but it's not exactly love at first sight... Helen is a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be plussized - and then some - and it's only so long before the insults start to fly from Tom's shallow yet shockingly funny office buddies. “FAT PIG” in London is produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and Broadway producer Barry Weissler, responsible for the New York and London hit musical “Chicago”. Performances at the Comedy Theatre will be at 7.30pm on Mondays – Saturdays, with 2.30pm matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays. Tickets, priced from £20 to £37.50, are available from the Comedy Theatre Box Office on 0870 060 6637 or online at: www.fatpigtheplay.com

10

10

of the MOST INFLUENTIAL

Plus-Size Women

Just As Beautiful Editor, Julia Thomas, Takes A Look At Plus-Size Women With Plus-Size Positivity

Trying to think of ten women who have had a positive influence on me and maybe the general public is a tough one. So, I thought of a couple and then struggled for a while to think of others. In the end I have had to drop a couple in favour of others, but still the full list was not as big as I would have liked. It seems (on thinking about it) that it is the same as in the work place, sports world and politics; that females are in the minority and there seems to be more opportunity for large male role models than female ones. Perhaps this will all change and become more acceptable in the public eye, rather than just the odd 'naughty postcard' token cuddly lady thrown into the mix for a bit of mirth. I think the greatest success of a buxom woman breaking into the A list is one who is there despite her size and not because of it.

clever and so funny with an intelligence to equal her size (the cheque is in the post isn't it Dawn? Hee hee). I don't think I have ever come across anyone who dislikes her and she has made it acceptable for men to lust over a big babe. Her comic ability has been not to make fun of her size in a way that makes you feel slightly uncomfortable, but in a way that makes me roar with laughter (as I know exactly where she is coming from. The ballet scene where she was mirroring Darcey Bustle springs to mind; she gracefully moves across the stage and when a bit comes along that is impossible for someone of ample proportions to perform, she fluffs over it with an extra flounce of the arms and a

My Top Ten (in no particular order)

smile). Alison Moyet Another stunning beauty. The secret desire of many teenage boys dreams back in the eighties when she burst into the mainstream with Vince Clarke to form Yazoo (who had big success with songs such as 'Don't go', 'Only You' and 'Nobody's Diary'). She then had success in her own right as a solo singer with songs like 'All Cried Out', 'Love Resurrection and 'That Ole Devil Called Love'. To me she was always fairly mysterious, wore long cloak like clothes and was fairly dark, but I only really saw her on Top of The Pops. She, again, wasn't the big lady who sings, but the sultry beauty with the big voice. Talent won through, thank goodness, and she still endures today having just finished a tour with Yazoo covering Europe and the USA and another tour in her own right is due next year.

Dawn French Fern Britton Probably the first lady who pops into most peoples minds when you mention plus-size women and rightly so. She has been there for many years now without either shoving her size down your throat or causing a fuss. Her size is second to her personality, which is why I think she is so popular. Stunningly beautiful,

Alison Moyet photo courtesy of Anna Scholz

Now drastically smaller, Fern has been such a positive image for the plus-sized lady that she should still be included in my list (although now I don't know what size she is). There seems to be a fair amount of criticism for her having had weightloss surgery, but I say it isn't an easy continued on pg. 18

A Fed-Up Look at

Fashion Week By author of FAT CHANCE, and national journalist Lyndsay Russell

It's Fashion Week … And ironically the only thing bursting at the seams are the newspapers, with endless images of the skeletal 'walking dead'. Yet again, the Week highlights the feeling of 'them' and 'us'. Ignore it, ladies… Those depressing statistics stating that 69% of women would rather be an unhealthy size 0 than a healthy size 16 only serve to send me running for a double custard doughnut. Bizarre isn't it, how we've changed our view of what's normal. Only 25 years ago, Twiggy was considered a skinny, gawky kid. Send her down the catwalk now, and her shape wouldn't cause the photographers to waste a digital click. Talking of digital clicks, I have a feeling that's where the nub of the problem lies. Photo retouching used to be expensive. One of my closest friends used to retouch using a hand brush and spent many a costly and painstaking hour removing spots and eye-bags from the models gracing the front cover of Vogue, Harpers or whatever. But that's all changed with the

digital revolution. At the press of a Photoshop button, she's shown me how you can not only make a face perfect in seconds, but just as easily stretch a model's impossibly long legs to even more fantastical lengths. It's so quick, cheap and easy to do, that it allows even mundane clothes catalogues to make their models extra thin, lean, and long-waisted in every shot. Digitally lengthened and slimmed images are all around us, in photos we would never think had been altered, and I do believe it's dangerously affecting the mindset of our tender offspring. My kid Tippi tells me she feels the pressure to measure up to this fake 'normal' image, and she's just eleven years old. Worse, she confided last week, she first felt it when she was only nine. I found out she wasn't alone whilst recently downing a latte at a regular school mum get-together. One of my friends told me she was shocked to hear the cool 'queen bee' in her daughter's year 4 class (nine-to-ten year olds) had ordered all the other kids to line up in weight order!

Apparently, the scrawny little monster then waltzed down the line, jabbing them with her fingers stating “You're too fat.” “You're podgy. You're okay… You're not. I'm perfect.” Horrified, I asked the mum telling the tale what she said to her poor daughter. To which she rightfully hung her head and quietly replied, “I'm ashamed to say, I asked her where she came…” Dear God, what are we coming to? Some people knock school media classes as frivolous, but actually I think they've got a major new role to play with our teenagers. They should have classes exposing the manipulation we're under - no question everyone would benefit to see a demonstration of the power of retouching. Perhaps we need Jaime Oliver type lessons in self esteem correction, because there's no doubt staring at the catwalk photos, it's very easy to feel we're so removed from the ideal of beauty, we may as well take our supposedly heffalump carcasses to the nearest

watering hole and sink into muddy oblivion.

FRISKY 69

The usual bleat against designers is they're mostly gay and like boyish figures to display their wares. Well, here's another thought… Profit. I think the fashion houses also love to promote 'skinny' because, let's face it… that means less costly material/sequins/jewels/sewing work on each item!! No wonder they want us all to be the size of a nine year old child. Perhaps we need to start a

campaign to encourage emerging young designers to think and design BIG. We need to convince them a bigger canvas, means a far more dramatic impact… they can have their models floating down the catwalks like magnificent, shimmering butterflies. Wouldn't that be great… then the protesters would be complaining that Size 26 was TOO big. And that would be a fun change. “Fat chance” you all say? Maybe not…

A former journalist, broadcaster and magazine editor, Lyndsay was one of the pioneers to choose more curvaceous models against the growing tide of size zero. Deeply aware of the pressure to be an unrealistic size, Lyndsay stands up for every woman who's ever hated the way they look and the way they are made to feel about it. Lyndsay has worked on Woman's Hour, Kaleidoscope and Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4 and presented shows on Talk Radio UK, BBC Scotland and BBC London.

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continued from pg. 16

good way though. Anyone who hasn't seen her interviews has no idea what they are missing. I have literally been sitting alone in my living room laughing my head off at the way she manages to get away with crazy stunts with big stars. She seems to manage to break their guard down and make a run-ofthe-mill five-minute interview her own. She leaves the stars shell shocked and looking like they are actually enjoying themselves. I feel she gets them to show their real side, flirting outrageously with the likes of Robert Downey Jr and Denzel Washington. I think she acts out how a star struck girl (like me) would want to be, meeting a big star, rather than the stuffy ten-apenny interview where the same questions are asked again and again.

the epitome of glamour. She starred in films of the black and white era and despite her beauty she was happy to don the 'wicked stepmother' type role appearing far from beautiful. In her later life and a huge memory from my teenage years was her appearance in the Prince Charming video of Adam & The Ants (where she was the fairy godmother to Adam). Unfortunately she died young of ovarian cancer at 52. Born with the name Diana Fluck, she was asked to change her name – leading her to quote: “They asked me to change my name, I suppose they were afraid that if my real name, Diana Fluck, was in lights, and one of the lights blew ……..” Hattie Jacques

courtesy of ITV

option. It's drastic, risky and by no means a breeze. I have read a little about this kind of surgery and it is a hard choice to make. I can respect anyone's reason for taking this option as it must be a hard decision to make, let alone the issue of loose skin post weight-loss. She should be defined by her personality and not by a life choice. Having been a stay at home Mum and then unable to work myself, I have watched her on television a fair amount in the mornings and love her wicked sense of humour, glamour and ability to see an amusing side of life along with great compassion in serious moments. Her fashion sense has always been lovely and again many men find her very alluring. She seems to be more like a 'real' person, the girl next door, someone you can relate and aspire to.

Diana Dors

The other blast from the past that jumped into my mind straight away. Born long ago in 1922, she was a comedy actress of large proportions who I mainly remember from the 'Carry On' films; her most famous role being as Matron in the hospital based films. She had also worked with legendary comedian Tony Hancock (that's even before MY time) and in later years with Eric Sykes. What impresses me about her is although she was a very large lady, the comedy in the roles she

courtesy of ITV

Allison Hammond I absolutely love this lady. I put her by Fern as her major role post Big Brother has been as a presenter on This Morning. She started with competitions and little segments and now has a larger role along with interviewing major film stars about upcoming movies. Anyone who has seen her interviews will probably be convinced she is slightly mad, in a

The first of two older generation curvy ladies I have to include as a part of my childhood. Diana Dors was born in Swindon in 1931 and was Britain's answer to blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. Although she was more curvy than plus-size until her later years, she was a stunning beauty with a figure that wouldn't make it on to most catwalks today. For me she was just courtesy of Aurum Press

had portrayed were not just based around her size but her genius for cutting looks and expertly placed quips. In my opinion she was not a plus-size actress, she was an actress who just happened to be plus-size. Queen Latifah Queen Latifah was known as a rapper to begin with. Through sheer hard work and talent she now has an enviable movie and television career and her own cosmetic range with Cover Girl. She had a poor start coming from the projects in New Jersey and broke into the mainly male dominated rapping scene. She has since then been in television roles and films receiving critical acclaim and the thing that impresses me the most is she has

Queen Latifah photo courtesy of Anna Scholz

done it all by having a formidable driving force and attitude to life. I saw her at the cinema in Hairspray, singing and dancing which brought her into my radar and reminds me not to have pre-conceived ideas about someone. A good example to show that if you try hard enough, you can overcome and thrive at anything you set your mind on. Leanne Jones A young lady who has shot straight from nowhere to star as Tracy Turnblad in the hit stage musical Hairspray in London. Admittedly I knew little about her, but my admiration is high as, with the movie. They didn't go along the lines of padding out a very well know actress to fill the role, and this young lady is dancing and dashing and

running around the stage from Monday to Saturday evenings (and a matinee on top of that on Thursday's and Saturday's). The best example I know to show that you can be large and fit at the same time. That aside from the interviews I have seen she is a lovely fresh young lady who is gorgeous. All you girls in school, who wish to follow a dream, go for it. You don't have to conform to the formula of a size 10 or below and the sooner that is accepted the better. (Can I nominate Michael Ball as an inspirational plus-size woman in the role of Edna Turnblad? No? Ok then, but he makes a really cuddly lovely Mum) Cheryl Fergison Heather Trott from Eastenders. Now this was a tricky one. When Eastenders brought her into the show I was pretty appalled that they were portraying the plus-size woman in the worst way possible. She wore clothes which were not flattering or nice; she was appearing to be a bit mentally challenged and wore her hair in a way that went out of fashion circa 1976. I thought to myself “oh no, here we go, show the big girl as a comedy figure, an object of ridicule and having no drive with an uncontrollable urge to eat everything in sight”; especially cheese which she was portrayed as being unable to resist causing her to loose her job (leaving teeth marks in the stilton is not a good look for the supermarket display). However, as the role wound out I have grown to admire Heather on the whole. They have shown reasons for her lack of confidence and reliance on others -an overbearing Mother who always calls her 'pig' and runs her down constantly. Although I would love it if they made her over and let her flourish more, she is now a firm favourite with a lovely caring nature, a great set of principals and the comedy isn't always at her expense. If you have a friend in Heather, you have a loyal, trustworthy friend to the end. Well done to Cheryl for making an appearance as a short term guest turn into a long running well loved character.

Victoria Wood Victoria Wood came to the fore in the 1980's alongside Julie Walters and then in her own show 'As Seen on TV'. She has a wit that doesn't rely on smut; there is a lot of innuendo there but never crossing the line and her songs are amazing if only for the fact that she can remember all the lyrics and play the piano at the same time. In later years she wrote the sitcom in which she starred 'Dinnerladies' which is well worth a look at on digital or satellite TV if you haven't watched it. She has also recently written and starred in her own musical 'Acorn Antiques, The Musical'. Much to her credit she broke the comedy mould to star in and win not one but two BAFTA's for starring in and writing for the TV adaptation of 'Housewife 49' (the story of the true diaries of a downtrodden housewife during the second World War in Lancashire). I think Victoria Wood should have more acclaim than she does for her long spanning career, along with Julie Walters a formidable pair to emulate.

Those are the ten I admire for their individual achievements, all in different ways. Looking back over the list it seems clear to me that the majority of these ladies have shone in a comedic role and I wonder if this is because they are large or in spite of being large? Do we enjoy seeing 'the big girl' making fun of herself or does the large girl develop a sense of humour to cope with way life happens to treat her? Often an object of 'fat' jokes and bullying at school? Is comedy a tool to escape the bully's wrath or is it something generic? 'Fat and jolly' has always seemed to be the phrase out there for large women or indeed men so I don't know. I do know I am very glad that whatever made these women into what they are happened, as each one of them would leave a hole in my past or the hope that the future will enable the larger woman to be accepted as the norm rather than the exception.

FASHION

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FASHION

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THE LARGE LADY IN the smallest room By Julia Thomas

I

t's time to take the walk along the hallway to the smallest but most welcome room of the house, well it is when you are needing it! The world of – hold on a sec…just a t's time to take the walk along the hallway to the smallest but most welcome room of the house, well it is when you are needing it! The world of – hold on a sec…just a moment . . . . . . .. Ahh, that's better! Now where was I? Oh yeah, the toilet, (I knew I shouldn't have had that third cuppa). The world of snow white porcelain, shiny chrome, fluffy towels and a hint of something flowery if you are lucky, and if you aren't… It's a pain in the plus sized proverbial, literally! Several things have happened over the last few months that have brought this subject to the fore; a music festival I went to in July with some of my best friends is the first. After hauling endless items about 30 miles across a rutted field, I had the job of pulling the porta potti in its glorious box much to their amusement. It was I who had begged my friend to bring said toilet as we were camping and I knew I would just have to 'go' in the night and didn't fancy my chances with the guy ropes and the midges, so it

was I who would drag it on the cart to the tent. Cutting a long story of erecting tents in threatening skies, setting up camp beds and getting the kettle on short, we had two tents, one with six of us and another with two. Our six berth luxury pad was where we installed the facilities. It was to go in a very non-squeamish friend's sleeping compartment during the day and the middle of the tent at night We had privacy as the sleeping compartments all zipped up, can I delicately mention that there was a firm rule with the loo, it was tinkles only, well we do have some standards. The lower class two berth tent had their own system which consisted of an ex ice cream tub and very accurate aim which is physically impossible for this larger lady. A couple of my friends did not want anything to do with the porta potti, a haughty flick of the hair over the shoulder and “I'm not using that” I believe was said at one point. They say pride comes before a fall, but maybe it should be changed to pride comes before a torrential rain fall (they would all be using it after the first ten inches of rain fell). Now it had been a while since I had encountered the portable toilet

block and I must say things have come a long way. These were nice and clean, didn't smell too bad and had plenty of paper and hand gel. Up I trotted before it got dark as we didn't want to push our luck with filling the porta potti over our three nights. I got to the block and chose my 'turdis', opened the door and stepped up to the throne (hmm, it's a bit snug in here I thought). I closed the door and was a bit alarmed to find the whole thing was on a strong tilt forwards. I had my tinkle, grabbed the paper thinking this was a piece of cake and there was the thing, something an average sized person wouldn't notice is that the door is very close to your knees, thus making it a very difficult procedure to lean forward to 'freshen up' post tinkle. You kind of try to lean forward and your very ample chest hits the back of the door making the whole thing the kind of feat that Olga Korbut would be proud to pull off. That with it, leaning forward in the first place was really unsettling. I was praying that the door catch was strong and having visions of being ejected leaving me stuck head first in the mud with my dignity reaching for the stars. We had some tea and snacks, oh and there may have been a bit of fizzy wine and beer consumed too.

And the time cam -time for the first of us to brave the porta potti with only a thin sheet of tent material separating her from the rest of us. Despite us being a little older than teenagers, we were giggling. But, boy did we end up appreciating that little plastic potti! It was so clever and even flushed. Bliss. It carried on raining and in the early hours I needed to 'go'. I hung on for what seemed like ages with the heavens throwing down on the tent and then thought 'it is time'. I unzipped the compartment which sounded like a chain saw firing up and there it was like a throne in the middle of the room. I sat down and thought, well, this is pretty comfy,

not bad at all, but could I 'go' despite wanting to? Ah, yes in the end I was tinkling with the wind and rain all around and trying to stifle a giggle as it felt so bizarre. I was also thinking what if the tent took off leaving me sitting there exposed to the world? Luckily it didn't and you guessed it -we all got over shy bladders. As it carried on pouring with rain most of the weekend we were really grateful for it. The thought of wearing wellys, raincoat etc in the middle of the night over your pyjamas was not good at all. A tip here, use the disabled porta loo if there isn't anyone waiting for it -it provides the amply padded lady, or man, a much more comfortable and logistically easier visit.

I have gone on a bit here so may have to make a second visit to the loo in the future. Kind of 'The Loo, Part Two', as there are a few stories I have to tell. Slender people only have to worry about if it is clean and has paper; I always approach a new public loo wondering if I have the skills to shimmy around the door or limbo under the sink sideways! Let alone if there is enough room to squeeze past the queue of ladies waiting to get in as you try and get out.

julia Thomas is the owner of leading website:

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Holiday Homes Under Threat As

Credit Crunch Goes Global

H

oliday homes risk being left empty and their owners out of pocket as the credit crunch begins to bite on a global scale, warns holiday rental home portal rentourproperty.tv As fewer people take holidays abroad to compensate for the rising costs of living in the UK, those who own holiday homes with a view to rent them out could be losing vital income. I a n B e l l , f o u n d e r o f rentourproperty.tv, says: “When even the Prime Minister stays in the UK for his summer holiday you know there must be a problem. Joking aside, there does seem to be a current trend to holiday closer to home to save on costs, but that leaves all those holiday homes empty and not generating income.

“A lot of people have invested in a property abroad to generate income and to provide an asset for when they retire. However, with fewer people going abroad that luxury villa on the French Riviera could become a costly investment.” Rentourproperty.tv point out that the rise of budget hotels is also a threat to rental holiday properties, but says it does not have to be doom and gloom for anyone owning a property overseas. Ian Bell says: “A lot of people rely on word of mouth to make sure their home gets rented out. However, when times get tough you find people will become more innovative. That's where we come in.

“Rather than just provide some drab photos, we have taken holiday homes into the 21st century. We turn those drab photos in to a video presentation, so that potential tenants see more of it and get a better idea of what it will be like to spend their holiday there. “Who knows, perhaps one day this will extend to the house buying market as well, it would certainly cut down on the time spent on house viewings.” Rentourproperty.tv provides downloadable versions of the holiday home video created for iPod's and mobile phones, allowing people to share and view a holiday property on the move, plus it can be uploaded to eight video sharing sites, including YouTube, Google, Yahoo and MySpace.

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